Does anyone have any good information or tutorials on creating your own canopies? I know there are numerous ways to go about doing this from vaccuform to thermaform, to casting and carving. I’m looking for a way I can make rigid canopies like the ones that come in kits. I have casting materials and I tried the vaccuforming bit and had bad luck. I don’t know what i’m doing wrong there.
What is the best way to create strong clear canopies on models? Has anyone had luck carving/sanding acrlyic rod into clear canopies? I have numerous scratch built aircraft coming down the pike (all in 1/32nd scale) and i’m going to need an efficient way to make canopy after canopy. Suggestions? comments?
I’m at a loss at this point! Help me obey1 ur my only hope [(-D]
While it is possible to carve a canopy from acrylic, the process requires considerable skills at measuring thicknesses in complex shapes, and in polishing multiple surfaces. The results is usually marred by optical distortion. Additionally, heat from the polishing process must be carefully controlled in order to avoid stress cracking (don’t ask how I know this).
PETG plastic, the same stuff used to mold plastic drink bottles, is available in various thicknesses through commercial plastic suppliers. For “blown” canopies, you can vacuum draw the heated PETG sheet as a sort of bubble through a simple shape cut into a thin, rigid material.
For more elaborate shapes, vacu-form plastic of the desired thickness over one or more carved forms. Refine the shapes to obtain a master. Pour dense silicone molds of the inside and outside of the master, then press-form the heated PETG sheet between the molds.
Some manufacturer’s have mastered the secret of casting clear resin canopies (Vector comes to mind), and they may be willing to share their secrets. My attempts inevitably come out milky and/or riddled with tiny bubbles, so I won’t be of much help there.
I’m strictly a Vac-form guy, although I’ve done some draw-forming too… I use the old Mattel Vac-U-Form machine that hasn’t been made since the 60’s, but you can find one on Ebay from time to time… http://shop.ebay.com/items/mattel%20vacuform?_dmd=1&_sop=12